by Starr, Maia
“Flint! Flint!” a craggy voice called from the street. “Flint! I know you’re still around here, so come on out. I need to talk to you, you mangy dog!”
Flint groaned in annoyance. May. He had forgotten all about her. He still needed to speak with her, but he was in no mood for a casual conversation. His wolf’s raging barely allowed him to stand still right now. Luckily for him, his wolf calmed a little, relenting and allowing Flint to relax his strained muscles and straighten to a regular standing position. Shaking his head to clear it one final time, Flint stuffed his hands in his pockets and stepped out from behind the store.
Rounding the corner, he spotted May just across the road, her head swiveling and her nose in the air, sniffing. He clicked his tongue, hoping she would stop being so obvious about her true nature, and her head snapped toward him. The second she spotted him, she rushed over.
“Took ya long enough, boy!” May said, shaking her finger at him as if she were his mother. “I’ve been looking for ya since I sent Addison up to her room. I forgot there was something I wanted to—”
“Treat me like the Alpha already, May,” Flint interrupted. “I know you’re a matriarch, but that doesn’t mean you can call me ‘boy.’”
May scoffed and put her hands on her hips. “Please, I’ll treat you right when you find a decent mate.”
Flint gave her a look that would have scared any of his pack, but she just laughed. “Trust me, Flint, I’ve been around longer than you have. I know the difference between an Alpha with a mate and one without. It’s a subtle difference, but it’s there.”
Sighing, Flint stepped closer. “So, you wanted help with something, right? I meant to wait for you at the inn, but—”
“Yeah, I know you meant to, but you just couldn’t stay, could you?” May put on a teasing grin. “Was it too difficult for you to be in the presence of a beautiful woman like her? Are you that desperate, my boy?”
Flint shifted on his feet and growled, baring his fangs.
May threw her hands up in mock fright. “Whoops! I’ve made the Alpha angry now.”
Flint’s wolf clawed toward the surface, and when Flint became too antsy to stand still, he turned away from May, causing her to wave her hands in apology. “Sorry, Flint, you’re just too easy right now.”
“Just… what do you need, May?” Flint ground out.
May studied him for a moment. “Let’s see here,” she mumbled, rummaging in her back pocket. “Ah, yes. Take this to Ash, will you? I need him to deliver it to the other side of the island.” She handed Flint what he assumed was a letter, sealed tight in a crinkled envelope.
Flint turned it over in his hand, glancing up at her.
“I would appreciate it if you did, but I know I’m not supposed to be giving you orders.”
Flint sighed but nodded. “It’s alright, May. Though I probably could have just sent Ash for this instead of coming myself.”
Leaning in, May tapped Flint’s shoulder. “But then you never would have gotten to see our lovely new maiden. I bet she was a welcome sight for your lonely eyes.”
“May…”
“Alright, alright! I won’t tease you anymore. But you know my teasing comes from love, don’t you?”
Shoving the letter into his back pocket, Flint glanced back up at the Silver Inn. He swore he saw the woman—Addison, had May said?—looking back at him from a window, but the figure disappeared before he could tell who it was. His wolf grew restless once more at the mere thought of the woman, and a light bulb went off in Flint’s head.
“I’ll deliver the letter to my brother for you, May… but only if you tell me about the new face in town.”
A wide smile split May’s face. “You mean Addison? Well, there isn’t that much to tell… she arrived on the island maybe an hour ago, ready to start a whole new life.”
“You have to know more than that. You picked her up from the docks, right? What did you guys talk about on the way here?”
“Aren’t you a nosy Alpha?” May fixed a few strands of her hair. “I asked her why she came, and she said she wanted to get away from city life in Seattle. Spend some time in a more natural setting.”
Without realizing, Flint leaned in closer. “Did she come alone?”
Nodding, May continued. “She did. She paid to build a house not too far from here—though you already know that. Paid in full upfront… a little strange for a woman as young as her, but apparently she’s got some money her parents gave her to throw around.”
“So, she’s alone, huh?” Flint said, glancing back up at the lonely inn on the hill. What’s Addison doing right now? he wondered. “Did she really just up and leave Seattle on a whim?”
May scratched her chin, a serious look forming on her face. “That’s the thing. I don’t think so. While I was talking to her, I got the sense she wasn’t telling me the whole truth of the matter. Like she was holding something back. I could smell fear on her…”
Flint eyed May, waiting for her to continue, but when she instead stared thoughtfully back up at her inn, he pushed her for more. “Why do you suppose that is?”
Raising an eyebrow, May looked back at Flint. “Well, I can’t say for certain, but people generally only leave on a whim and are willing to spend bucket loads of cash to get away if something awful happened… if something forced them to leave. But that’s just speculation on my part.”
Curiosity got the better of Flint, and he found himself more intrigued than infatuated with the woman at the moment. His inner wolf wanted to ravage her body, but he, the man, wanted to solve the mystery behind her arrival. Nodding to himself, he decided to ask May a bold question, one that could very well mark a turning point in his life. “Would you ask her if she wants to come to Pete’s Bar & Grille later tonight? My pack can help her feel more welcome on the island, and I want a chance to meet her, especially if I’m going to build her house.”
“Sure, Flint, but I have to warn you: I don’t think you should move too quickly with her. If you rush into trying to make her your mate, she’ll reject you faster than a jackrabbit can run.”
Flint smiled. “Thanks for the advice, May.”
“I’m telling you!” May continued. “When she hopped off the ferry and met me on the docks, we heard your pack howling in the forest. Scared the poor girl half to death. She isn’t too fond of wolves, so you better be willing to walk a tightrope.”
“I got it, May. I’m not stupid enough to just jump right in. Have faith in your Alpha, will you?”
May chuckled and gave him a small shove. “Fine, fine. Just get moving. I need that letter on its way soon.”
“Understood. I’ll round up Ash for this delivery the second I see him. See you around, May.”
May gave him a thumbs up, turned on her heel and marched away. Flint watched the matriarch go, snorting in amusement at the old woman. She may have gotten older physically, but mentally, she remained just as young as the rest of them.
After one last glance at the inn, Flint turned and stalked away, making a mental note about the letter. While his inner wolf howled in anticipation of the night ahead, Flint himself wondered what kind of woman Addison was. She might turn out to be awful, sure, but maybe, just maybe, Flint’s single life would end sooner than he’d expected.
Chapter Five
Pete’s Bar & Grille
Addison’s room at the Silver Inn was cozier than she’d expected, but it did nothing to disperse the loneliness in her heart. She found it increasingly difficult to stay positive as she paced around the room with her arms crossed and her stomach churning, wondering if her decision to come to Silverwood Island had been the best choice.
What was she thinking? Of course it was the best choice! Her other option was being hunted down by a deranged criminal! But Addison couldn’t quite convince herself of that. She’d only been on the island a few hours now, but the weight of her choice hung over her, enveloping her in a strange, shadowy veil she just couldn’t shrug off. Silverwood wa
s beautiful with its crisp forest air and friendly people, but it was nothing like Seattle.
She thought about calling Lindsay again and had just reached for her phone when someone knocked on her hotel door. Addison opened it to find May Silver standing there, and, honestly, she felt a small sense of relief at suddenly having someone to talk to.
“How’s it going, sweetheart?” May asked as she stared up at Addison with sparkling eyes and a broad smile.
Chuckling, Addison replied as confidently as she could: “It’s alright. Just getting used to the room. I was debating whether to call a friend of mine from back home…”
May grunted and scratched behind her ear. “Well… since it’s your first night in Silverwood, I thought it would be a good idea for you to get out and meet people. Not spend the night alone.”
Addison blinked. “That would be wonderful, May, but I don’t even know where to go—”
“Pete’s Bar & Grille!” May spoke with such intensity that Addison jerked back. “It’s one of only two bars on this island, and it’s where pretty much everyone goes to socialize on the eastern side. You can meet people there, make new friends. In fact, I’ve already had someone request you come tonight so they can meet you.”
Addison gulped in surprise. Someone asked for her to come? Who? She supposed it could be anyone since May had told her word spread quickly on the island, but she found herself picturing the man from earlier, and a tingling sensation ran through her body.
“Where is it?” Addison asked. “Is it far from here? Do you think I should dress up? No, what am I saying? I should be as casual as possible, right?”
May cackled in delight, grabbing both of Addison’s shoulders. “Easy there. Don’t overthink this. Just be you. Honestly, no one will care what you wear, either, since you’re already drop-dead gorgeous.”
Addison blushed at the sentiment. “Oh, please, May.”
Releasing her, May stepped back. “I want to give you fair warning though: beware the wolves. They prowl this time of night. Just make sure you don’t end up alone with one, alright?”
May’s warning puzzled her, and she frowned. Cocking her head, Addison opened her mouth to ask if wolves ventured into town that often, but May didn’t give her the chance.
“Just turn right when you leave the inn and go down to the end of town. You’ll recognize the bar because it’s the only building in town with a neon sign out front. Too hip for my tastes.”
“Okay,” Addison said. “I guess I’ll go, then.”
“You’d better! I promised you’d come.”
Laughing and nodding her thanks, Addison watched as May turned and walked down the hallway before backing into her room and closing the door. Excitement fluttering in her belly, she hurried to get ready for the night ahead.
* * *
Addison took a deep breath of fresh air as she exited the Silver Inn and then made her way down the steps to the main thoroughfare of the town. People were out and about even more so than earlier in the day, chatting in huddled groups or strolling in pairs down the street.
It was already dark out, which made Addison shiver and glance around nervously, but her footsteps didn’t falter. In all honesty, she was more nervous about socializing at the bar than about wolves coming out to hunt her.
The last few days had been odd and rather lonely, what with her not being able to work or speak to any of her coworkers. Antsy described her perfectly; she’d had almost no human interaction in the past few days, and it was driving her crazy. And now, she had nothing to do except wait for May’s construction crew to build her new house. Just what was Addison supposed to do with all this free time? Read? Watch TV? Go for a jog?
Consumed by her thoughts, Addison wandered through the town until a bright neon light fell across her, and she looked up to find herself directly in front of Pete’s Bar & Grille. A steady stream of people squeezed past her to enter, with only one or two slipping out in between them. The bar didn’t look very big, and Addison wasn’t sure how all these people could fit inside. She wasn’t in the mood to bump elbows all night. Maybe she should just go back to the inn. Shuffling away from the entrance, a quick glance around the corner told her the bar stretched far back, meaning it was much larger than it appeared. Okay, no excuse to leave, then.
Addison continued to stare at the brick and wood building for a moment. On the few dates she’d gone on back in college, she’d always met the guys outside. But this wasn’t a date, and Addison refused to stand outside waiting for something to happen. She wasn’t the type of woman to wait around. She took a deep breath.
As she stepped closer to the entrance, her mind raced. Should she have called Lindsay for advice? What would she do if no one would talk to her? Would people just stare at her? Would that man from earlier be inside, drinking a beer and laughing with his friends? Was he the one who’d asked May to invite her?
Pushing the thoughts from her mind, Addison gripped the door handle and pulled the door open, letting soft music escape into the chilly night air. As she stepped inside, almost every pair of eyes in the bar locked onto her, observing as she made her way past a few tables and to the bar.
Trying to ignore the attention, Addison put on a cool façade, but a slight blush colored her cheeks. Sliding onto a stool at the end of the bar, she placed her purse on the counter and waited as the bartender, a man in a simple flannel shirt, finished with another customer and sidled over to her.
“You’re the new girl in town, right?” he asked. “Just arrived today?”
Addison nodded. “Hopped off the ferry this morning. I’m staying at May Silver’s inn for the moment.” The bar became noticeably quieter as Addison talked. Clearly, the bartender wasn’t the only one interested in knowing about her. “I’ll be on the island for the foreseeable future.”
“Good!” The bartender said, his white teeth flashing against his long but well-trimmed beard. “It’s always a great day when someone else joins our little island family. In honor of that, your drinks tonight are on the house.”
“Oh, thank you…”
“William.” The bartender winked at her. “Just call me Will. I’m the only good bartender on this island, so you’re in good hands.”
Will ducked below the counter, rummaging for a few bottles and a box of fruit and throwing them onto the counter along with all the tools Addison assumed he needed to mix drinks. Alcohol had never been one of Addison’s passions.
In just a couple minutes, he slid a tall glass containing a light orange liquid into her open hand. Addison glanced up at him for an explanation.
He laughed. “Grapefruit crush. Simple, but it’s a classic on Silverwood Island. Most of the women order this every time they come in.”
Addison couldn’t help but glance around to check the validity of his statement, but she quickly forgot what she was looking for as she realized people were still gawking at her. Most looked away when she met their eyes, but a few—specifically, a group of handsome young men—didn’t break eye contact.
Will leaned over the counter, close enough to whisper in her ear although he didn’t whisper. “Don’t pay them any mind. I know everyone you’ve met already has probably told you this, but it’s not every day we get new people, so it’s always a big deal. The staring is either because you’re new or because you’re so stunning, nobody can take their eyes off you.”
His compliment earned a shy smile from Addison, and he chuckled.
But then, the front door opened and the man from earlier stepped inside, ripping Addison’s attention away from Will. She wouldn’t have looked, but the bar had grown quiet just like it had when she’d walked in, and now, she couldn’t stop staring. Tall and lean, his rippling muscles showing through his skin-tight shirt, the man took a few steps inside, his dark, piercing green eyes meeting her gaze within seconds. Addison had to remind herself to breathe. Her heart pounding, she wanted to glance away, but his gaze held her locked in a trance. He didn’t smile or make a move to walk ove
r to her, but Addison could tell there was something pulling her to him, and him to her. She could tell he wanted her.
Realizing how ridiculous her thoughts were, Addison forced herself to calm down. All he did was look at her, and that didn’t mean he instantly fell in love with her. Assuring herself he’d find his place at a table with a group of guys, she turned her head back to her drink and took a sip. She didn’t look back, even as the thudding of his boots signaled his approach.
Suddenly, the empty seat next to her was no longer empty, and Addison glimpsed light brown hair and startlingly green eyes out of the corner of her eye. Addison felt the odd urge to drain her glass, and so she did, slamming it back down on the counter and turning to the man next to her.
He smiled at her: it was a small smile, but a rich one, full of promise. Addison studied his face, observing the chiseled jawline, sculpted cheekbones, and other perfect features. She looked into his eyes, losing herself in them; they contained something wild, something primitive she couldn’t quite place. She vaguely heard him say something, but the words sounded far away—as if she were underwater. Addison tore her gaze from his, blushing and clearing her throat.
The man cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. “You haven’t drunk too much yet, have you?”
Addison shook her head. “Ah, no, sorry. I, uh, just didn’t expect you to come talk to me.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he said, leaning his elbow on the counter. “You’re the new face in town. Everyone’s—”
“Talking about me. Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
Addison glanced behind her, and the man followed suit, his smile fading. Most of the current patrons still watched them.
The man grunted. “Are they giving you trouble?”
“Well, it’s not trouble, per se… I understand how they feel, but it is a little uncomfortable…”